Electric switch mounting means



p 1950' R. F. GATES 2,522,172

ELECTRIC SWITCH MOUNTING MEANS Filed July 22, 1947 Snnentor WF,MV@ MM.fl attorneys atcntcd Sept. 12, 1950 STATES ELECTRIC SWITCH MOUNTINGMEANS Connecticut Application July 22, 1947, Serial No. 762,897 InCanada July 16, 1945 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patentexpires July 16, 1965 2 Claims.

1 This invention relates to electric switch mounting means, particularlyfor mounting rotary electric switches behind panels such as the subformfrom the standard form, so that said switch can be mounted either as areplacement for other different switches or in connection with otherthan the standard form of panel in new assemblies of electric ranges andthe like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as theinvention is described in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a plan view of a standard panel.

Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting parts and switchembodying the principles of th invention.

Fig. 3 is a section view through a switch mounted on a panel havingprovision for center hole mounting embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of another form of panel. I

Fig. 5 is a plan view of another form of adapter plate for mounting theswitch of Fig. 2 behind the panel of Fig. 4.

In the drawing the panel I0 is or may be a common or standard sub-panelas found in electric ranges. 'A standard form of such panel has a largecircular aperture l2 around which are two small holes H located on anoblique axis through the center hole I! in diametrically oppositepositions.

A common form of electric range switch comprises a prismatic,rectangular insulating casing 16 molded of insulating material andhaving a rectangular sheet metal cover l8 secured thereon by screw bolts20 or other suitable fastening means. Through the cover extends aconventional switch 22 whose rotation by a handle (not shown) operatesthe switch.

According to the invention the switch cover is provided with a pair ofinternally threaded holes 24 located and dimensioned as to size toregister with the holes H in the sub-panel l0 when the switch is placedbehind the panel with spindle extending through the center hole I2. Theswitch may therefore be directly mounted behind the sub-panel by screwspassing freely through holes I4 and threaded into holes 24.

In order to adapt the same switch as above described to a center-holetype mounting, an externally threaded nipple or hollow boss 26 having acircumferential flange 28'at one end is slid on the. spindle 22. Theflange will seat within a. recess or a depressed portion 2! stamped intothe switch cover I8 around the spindle. Such depression may convenientlyb created in the formation of the indexing means for the switchmechanism; but the recess may be otherwise formed To secure the nipple26 in that position, there is provided an adapter plate 30 stamped fromsheet metal with a larg central opening 32 for the nipple and twosmaller openings 34 of size and position to register with the screwholes 2 in the switch cover. Screw bolts 38 pass through the opening 34in the adapter plate and screw into the threaded holes 24 in the switchcover. Above the heads 38 of the screw bolts 38 are cylindricalextensions 40 coaxial with the shanks of the bolts. The extensions areslotted complementally with a slot in the. head of the bolts to receivea screw driver whereby the screw bolts may be driven home. The undersideof the heads 38 are beveled so that the head 38 is flush with the topsurface of the adapter plate when the adapter plate is secured on theswitch cover; but the extensions 40 will project above the cover. andthey are of such diameter as to fit within the holes It in the panel Itin order to prevent rotation of the whole switch when the switch issecured to the panel.

For securing the switch to the panel, a nut 42 is screwed on the nipple26.

The principles of the invention can also be applied in providing meansto enable the use of the same switch as herein described, to another oldform of panel.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a panel 50 having a central aperture 52 similarto aperture II of panel I0. On opposite sides of the aperture 52 aresmaller openings or indentations .51. For adapting theswitch IE tomounting behind the panel 50, there is provided an adapter plate 60,like adapter plate 30 except that it has twin lugs 56 stuck up onopposite sides of the central opening so as to regsiter with andinterlock in openings or indentations 54 in the panel 50 when theadapter plate is behind the panel 50. The adapt- 3 er plate can besecured to the switch cover by conventional screws (l. e. withoutextensions 40) passing through holes 64 and threaded into the coverholes 24 to hold the nipple 26 between the cover and adapter plates.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the provision of theadapter plate 30 and novel form of screws 36 in combination with thenipple 26 make it optionally possible to mount the switch by eithercenter-hole type mounting or by direct screw mounting. The same form ofscrew bolt or nipple 26 can be used in either case because ordinarilythere is sufficlent clearance between the sub-panel l0 and the outsidecovering or panel of such apparatus as electric ranges and the like withwhich this invention may be used to accommodate the small extensions 40of the screw heads.

Modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore I do not limit the invention to thedetails of form as illustrated.

I claim:

1. In combination, an electric switch comprising a casing, a plateextending across the top of the casing, a spindle extending up from thecasing, a panel having a central aperture and spaced holes on oppositesides of said aperture, said top plate having screw threaded holesregistering with said panel holes when said spindle is passed throughsaid aperture, whereby said switch may be secured to said panel by screwbolts passed through said panel holes and threaded into said plateholes; an adapter plate having a central opening and holes on oppositesides of the opening to register with said top plate and panel the holesin said adapter plate and to thread into 2,172,397

said top plate holes for securing said adapter plate to said top plate,and means extending from said screw bolts and fitting into said panelholes to prevent rotation of the switch relative to the panel, and meansengaging said nipple to secure the switch to the panel.

2. In combination, an electric switch having a cover member, a spindleextending through said cover member, a panel having a central apertureand spaced holes on opposite sides 01' said aperture, said cover memberhaving screw threaded holes registering with said panel holes when saidspindle passes through said aperture, whereby said switch may be securedto said panel by screw bolts passed through said panel holes andthreaded into said cover holes; an adapter member having a centralopening and holes to register with said cover member and panel holes, a.nipple secured to said switch by said adapter member and passing throughsaid central opening, and screw bolts adapted to pass through said holesin said adapter member to thread into said cover holes for securing saidadapter member onsaid cover member, and means extending from said screwbolts and fitting into said panel holes to prevent rotation of theswitch relative to the panel, and means engaging said nipple to securethe switch to the panel.

ROWLAND F. GATES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,854,211 Meuer Apr. 19, 19322,069,440 Hathorn Feb. 2, 1937 2,077,577 Meuer Apr. 20, 1937 Meuer Sept.12, 1939

